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The Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo gave Clr De-Necker a letter of suspension two weeks ago accusing him of insubordination and defying Government orders.

“I have been suspended for refusing to appoint Mrs Priscilla Nkala as the chamber secretary for the municipality. I do not have hard feelings over the matter because I understand the minister has the right under the Urban Councils Act to give directions on the running of local authorities,” said Clr De-Necker in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

“The mayors do not have executive powers and the decision on this issue was made by the whole council. I do not have the power to force any councillor to vote in a particular manner on any issue.

“The most important thing is that as a council we make collective decisions and resolutions. I do not have powers to appoint employees alone,” he said.

According to the suspension letter, Clr De-Necker was suspended without pay and is barred from doing any council business within or outside council premises.

Clr De-Necker said he was waiting for the Ministry of Local Government to send its investigation team to Gwanda to establish the allegation behind his suspension.

“The way forward is for the ministry to send its investigators to look into the matter. As it is I am not going to work because the letter made it clear that I should stop reporting for duty.

However, what I will have on record is that the community should be involved in determining whether their leaders are serving them well or not,” he said.

The deputy mayor Clr Thokozile Sibanda declined to comment on the issue.
“It is too early for me to comment. I have no comment,” she said.